Help with Titles!

Published

Hi! I am looking at starting a new position at a new clinic. Going through all of their job postings, I am wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between "clinical" nursing and "ambulatory" nursing? To me, clinical sounds like if you work in a clinic. But do you think they mean, bedside, acute care?

Thanks in advance!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

"Ambulatory" usually means the pt is a walkie-talkie - walks in to the office on his own power and is expected to leave the same way.

"Clinical" sounds more like it's hands-on performance of real tasks, like VS, injections, postioning pt for tests, doing tx, etc.

You already know it's a clinic environment so that shoots that definition out to me. JMHO

I guess the amb/clinic nurses have a better grasp of finer nuances.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Ambulatory nursing is nursing in a clinic or outpatient setting. "Clinical" nursing just means that they work directly with patients - it doesn't necessarily mean "in a clinic" because a bedside nurse is also a clinical nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion